Vaccinium plant named ‘Vacsid1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Vaccinium , ‘Vacsid1’, that is characterized by its compact plant habit with sturdy stems, and its new foliage growth that is bright red in color.

Botanical classification: Vaccinium ovatum.

Cultivar designation: ‘Vacsid1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofVaccinium ovatum, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘Vacsid1’. ‘Vacsid1’ is a new cultivar of Evergreen huckleberry isgrown for use as a landscape shrub.

The new cultivar was discovered by the Inventor in 2006 as a naturallyoccurring branch mutation of Vaccinium ovatum ‘Thunderbird’ (notpatented) that was growing in a container in his nursery in Mission,B.C., Canada.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by stem cuttings in Mission, B.C., Canada in 2007. Asexualpropagation by stem cuttings and in vitro propagation has determinedthat the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar, which in combination distinguish‘Vacsid1’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium.

-   -   1. ‘Vacsid1’ exhibits a compact plant habit with sturdy stems.    -   2. ‘Vacsid1’ exhibits new foliage growth that is bright red in        color.

‘Thunderbird’, the parent plant of ‘Vacsid1’, differs from ‘Vacsid1’ inthat the plant habit is not compact and the branches are weaker.‘Vacsid1’ can also be compared to the cultivar ‘Wunderlich’ (notpatented) and ‘Blue Madonna’ (not patented). ‘Wunderlich’ differs from‘Vacsid1’ in being a large leaved form, in being taller in height and inhaving a more vigorous growth habit. ‘Blue Madonna’ differs in havingmature leaves that are chalky blue in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Vaccinium. The photographs weretaken of a plant about three years in age as grown outdoors in atwo-gallon container in Mission, B.C., Canada.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the plant habit of‘Vacsid1’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Vacsid1’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of maturing and maturefruit of ‘Vacsid1’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Vacsid1’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Vaccinium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of two year-old plants of thenew cultivar grown outdoors in 1-gallon containers in Mission, B.C.,Canada. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General plant characteristics:    -   -   Blooming period.—About 6 weeks in spring in Mission, B.C.,            Canada.        -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, dense, broadly upright spreading.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 76 cm in height and 106 cm            in width.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy to at least U.S.D.A. Zone 7 in Canada.        -   Disease resistance.—No particular resistance to diseases has            been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Growth rate.—Slow to moderate.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings and tissue culture.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem size.—Lateral branches are an average of 14 cm in            length and 1.5 mm in width, secondary branches; an average            of 10 cm in length and 1 cm in width.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—Young shoots; 145A, later turning 34A, mature            stems; 144A.        -   Stem surface.—Young stems; slightly glossy, mature stems;            slightly glossy and moderately covered with wooly hairs 0.5            mm in length and 45A in color.        -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Internode length.—Average of 3 mm.        -   Branching habit.—An average of 17 lateral branches from the            base, with 0 to 5 secondary branches.        -   Branching aspect.—Lateral and secondary branches; upright to            an angle of 45°.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy and slightly rugose            on upper and lower surface.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface new foliage; 137A and strongly            suffused with 179A, lower surface new foliage; 138A and some            suffusion of 179A, maturing foliage upper surface; 144B with            a thin margin of 179A, maturing foliage lower surface; 138A,            mature foliage upper surface; N137B, mature lower surface            foliage; 146A.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 24 per lateral branch.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 7 mm in length and 4 mm in width.        -   Leaf aspect.—Held upward at about a 45° angle.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf veins.—Upper and lower surfaces same color as leaf            color.        -   Petioles.—Average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width, upper            and lower surfaces 144A in color.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Pendulous terminal raceme of single flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Average of 7 to 10 days.        -   Pedicels.—Round in shape, an average of 5 mm in length and            0.5 mm in width, 144A in color, smooth surface.        -   Peduncles.—Round in shape, an average of 2.5 cm in length            and 0.5 mm in width, a blend between 144A and 199B in color,            surface moderately covered with wooly hairs 0.5 mm in length            and 45A in color.        -   Flowers.—Campanulate in shape, an average of 10 flowers per            raceme.        -   Flower buds.—Oval in shape, an average of 5 mm in length and            2.5 mm in width, color a blend between 73A and 72A in color.        -   Flower size.—Average of 8 mm in length and 5 mm in width.        -   Sepals.—5, ovate in shape, acute apex, fused base, an            average of 3 mm in width and 4 mm in length, upper and lower            surface 138A with tips 187B in color, margins entire.        -   Petals.—5, ovate in shape, acute apex, fused base, an            average of 7 mm in length and 3 mm in width, upper and lower            surface 69A to 69B with longitudinal stripes 72D in color,            upper and lower surface smooth and glabrous, margins entire.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, an average of 6 mm in length; style is            151C in color and 5 mm in length, stigma 1 mm in diameter,            ovary; 151C in color, 2 mm in length and width.        -   Androcoecium.—10 stamens, 6 mm in length and 0.5 mm in            width, filament; an average of 5.5 mm in length, 0.5 mm in            width, and 9A in color; dorsifixed anthers, an average of 1            mm in length and width and 9A in color, pollen is moderate            in quantity and 9A in color.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Fruit number.—12 fruits per branch 10 cm long.        -   Fruit use.—Not grown for fruit production.        -   Fruit bearing season.—Mid to late in Mission, B.C., Canada.        -   Fruit size.—Medium to large sized fruit, an average of 4 mm            in diameter and height.        -   Fruit shape.—Globose.        -   Persistence of calyx.—Not persistent.        -   Surface.—Glossy, smooth, glabrous.        -   Skin color.—Immature 138B, maturing a blend between 93A,            138B and 181A, mature a blend between 95A and 103A.        -   Color of flesh.—A blend between 194A to 194C and 160A.        -   Seed.—Oblong to oval in shape, 30 per fruit, <1 mm in length            and width, 171A to 171B in color.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium plant named‘Vacsid1’ as herein illustrated and described.